"I told you, I can help her. My dragon and I are enough to suppress any dissenters."
Rhaegar firmly refused.
He feared the dream.
He didn't understand why Rhaenyra had to face such a fate.
But he did know one thing:
As long as he stood steadfastly behind Rhaenyra, disaster could not destroy them.
They were born of fire, unafraid of wind, frost, or rain.
Viserys glared at his eldest son, frustration brewing in his chest.
This insolent brat.
He was offering him the throne!
Daemon had gone so far as to deceive his daughter and conspire to harm his eldest son for the throne.
Rhaegar, as the eldest son and the first in line to the Iron Throne, wasn't even slightly tempted by Rhaenyra's position?
Perhaps.
But it didn't matter. Rhaegar was still too young and had not yet tasted the allure of power.
Sooner or later, he would understand the importance of being an heir.
Viserys sneered coldly and declared with authority:
"My decision to name you as crown prince is not a suggestion—it is an order for you and Rhaenyra!"
"No one can refuse the king's command!"
Rhaegar spread his hands, meeting his father's gaze stubbornly.
"I refuse. You can't force the title of heir on me."
"You would even defy my command, Rhaegar?"
Viserys raised an eyebrow, his expression growing darker.
"If your command involves harming Rhaenyra to elevate me, then yes, I would." Rhaegar's face was resolute.
"Very well. You and your sister both disregard your father and king. You are both incredibly bold."
Watching Rhaegar stand up for Rhaenyra, Viserys seemed provoked, a flicker of cruelty flashing in his eyes.
He turned his ire on Rhaenyra.
"Rhaenyra, your brother has learned your defiance, and that is the quality I despise the most."
Rhaenyra averted her face, lowering her head in silence.
She was merely a pawn in the game of power—a victim of this family meeting.
She didn't want to say a word.
Because she knew, no matter what she said, it would be wrong.
On one side was her father, eager to replace her. On the other, her brother, trying to protect her.
Caught in the middle, she felt like she was standing at a crossroads, overwhelmed by confusion and helplessness about her future.
Viserys's gaze returned to Rhaegar, his voice cold:
"My will is not to be defied. If you disobey my command, you will bear regrets you cannot endure."
Rhaegar's eyes were filled with confusion, unable to comprehend.
Viserys spoke calmly:
"As the crown prince, Rhaenyra's marriage has always been a significant issue.
Now, she is no longer the heir. She will marry as a princess in a political alliance."
"Velaryon's Laenor, Lannister's Jason or Tyland, or even Dorne's Prince Martell—any of them would be a good choice."
Hearing this, both Rhaegar and Rhaenyra's expressions changed dramatically.
They stared in disbelief at the father who had always seemed kind.
Faced with her marriage being used as a bargaining chip, Rhaenyra reacted furiously, her voice trembling with grief:
"You have the right to replace me as heir, but why torment your suffering daughter who has already lost her throne?"
"If you hadn't hesitated so long, none of this would have happened!"
Viserys hardened his heart, determined to teach his disobedient children a lesson.
Of course, he would never truly use Rhaenyra as a tool for marriage alliances.
She was his daughter, the eldest child of his late wife, Aemma Arryn.
But to ensure Rhaegar complied, a little intimidation was necessary.
And it worked.
The effect was extraordinary.
Rhaegar stood frozen, staring at his father with uncertainty.
It was hard to imagine the father who always wore a kind smile being so ruthless.
Rhaegar felt a wave of helplessness rise in his heart.
For the first time, he truly understood the weight of absolute power.
After a long moment, he finally spoke, his voice strained:
"Father, why must I inherit the Iron Throne?"
He was genuinely puzzled as to why his father was so insistent on making him the heir.
"Because you are the prince of prophecy, the rightful first in line to the throne. You are destined to sit upon the Iron Throne," Viserys replied matter-of-factly.
"You tamed the largest wild dragon in history on your own, subdued nobles and wildlings on the Wandering Isles, and with your lineage—how could you not become the heir?"
He was convinced that Rhaegar was the prophesied prince, the one who could lead House Targaryen to its zenith.
Rhaegar hesitated for a moment before replying:
"Father, if you want peace in the realm, I can serve as Warden of the Realm.
If you want House Targaryen's glory restored, I can defeat the pirates of the Stepstones and the Ironborn of the Iron Islands...
I can even ride my dragon to conquer Dorne and fully unite the Seven Kingdoms under Targaryen rule.
If that's still not enough, I could bring the Free Cities, Slaver's Bay, and the entire continent of Essos under our control..."
---
"Even if it takes my entire life, I will reclaim these lands and return them to the rule of the Dragon King family."
With these words, Rhaegar glanced back at Rhaenyra cautiously and said, "But first, please don't disregard Rhaenyra. Give me some time—I'll grow up soon..."
"Please, I'm begging you!"
A heartfelt plea from a six-year-old child, devoid of any pretense or falsehood.
Whether the determined king was moved was yet to be seen.
However, the young girl behind him was already in tears, her face buried in her hands as she failed to stop the steady stream of tears. She stood motionless, gazing at her little brother, who barely reached her waist.
"Sigh..."
Watching his eldest son resist with all his heart, Viserys felt deeply troubled and let out a heavy sigh.
He turned to Rhaenyra and hesitantly asked, "Rhaenyra, what do you think?"
His and his eldest son's positions were already clear.
Now, it was Rhaenyra's turn to weigh in, standing at the center of the storm.
"The right to inherit belongs to Rhaegar. I will return it to him, just as he supported me, I will support him," Rhaenyra said without hesitation, choking back her sobs.
At this point, the title of heir was no longer important.
Rhaegar's heartfelt words left her with no choice but to feel content, even if she had been reluctant. It was enough.
"Rhaenyra!"
Rhaegar shouted in protest.
Rhaenyra shook her head firmly, her voice trembling. "Rhaegar, from the moment I became heir, I've been fighting against prejudice."
"I wanted to be a beloved queen, to abolish unfair rules and create a new order."
"But I lack the wisdom of Queen Visenya, and I'm not even as composed and perceptive as Aunt Rhaenys."
"You're my little brother. I can't let you sacrifice your life to fulfill my ideals."
She may not have extraordinary wisdom, but she wasn't blind.
Rhaegar was better than her—more suitable to be the heir.
What's more, Rhaegar's words were entirely out of consideration for her, his sister.
She couldn't take his sacrifices for granted or selfishly claim his entire life for herself.
At this moment, she, too, had to protect her younger brother.
Rhaegar's eyes turned red as he whispered, "Rhaenyra..."
"Don't get emotional just yet. I have my own conditions," Rhaenyra said as she wiped her tears and pulled him into a tight embrace. She locked eyes with her father and declared, "As compensation for my concession, you must agree to my terms."
Viserys stood silently, leaning on the round table for support.
It was as if he and the two young women existed in separate realms.
He was lost in thought, questioning whether it was right to revoke his daughter's status as heir and replace it with his eldest son.
This tendency to doubt himself was entirely in line with his character.
Whenever faced with a difficult decision, he would fall into self-doubt.
Hearing his daughter's words brought him back to his senses. His eyes looked dazed for a moment.
It wasn't until Rhaenyra repeated herself that he fully understood.
He nodded repeatedly, smiling with a touch of flattery. "Of course. I've already thought about how to make it up to you."
---
**(End of Chapter)**